Sherman's Big Adventure

[LesliesBabies]

Sherman climbed onto the outside of her cage last night. The door has been open for a month now. I'd been trying to coax her out with a piece of apple and she did it!

Sherman scooted down to the bottom of her cage, stepped on the door "sill," turned around and held on to the bars with her good foot.

We stayed up past bedtime tonight because Sherman almost did it, again. She got to the door, grabbed her bit of apple and this time an almond slice was there, too. She looked at me like, "Is this okay?" then stayed on the bottom of her cage to eat her treats before going back up!

I'm so proud of Sherman!

[Dragonlady2]

It always feels great when there is a breakthrough with the fids!

[LesliesBabies]

It always feels great when there is a breakthrough with the fids!

"Firsts" for her are extra special. She's disabled. I think her newfound "freedom" is related to her much thinner perches. They've all but solved the "falling" problem.

I've learned new kinds of patience, service and love thanks to her!

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Mmmm apple and almond, Casper's faves. :)

Excellent news on Sherman's new mobility. Does she fly at all? And well done you. :goodjob:

[LesliesBabies]

Mmmm apple and almond, Casper's faves. :)

Excellent news on Sherman's new mobility. Does she fly at all? And well done you. :goodjob:
I'm convinced that everyone and everybirdie LOVES apples and almonds!

No, she doesn't fly. One wing is smaller than the other. Exercise and weight control are major concerns for her.
On one foot has only 3 toes and no nails.
Like the AV said, at least she won't fly away and nail trims are easier. HAHA

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

If given the opportunity to have a choose from the mixed nut box Casper will of course pic the largest, usually walnut half, but in his ideal world he would live on a diet of only the honey coated almonds that come in our breakfast cereal. He also has foot and wing problems but nowhere near as bad as Sherman so he doesn't fly more than a few feet.
He gets his exercise by chasing a plastic bottle around the floor. We also get him to hang on to a finger which we hold above our head and then swoop down to the floor whilst he flaps his wings. We have to say "one two three go" otherwise he just flops over backwards which I think is mainly for comedy effect.

[LesliesBabies]

If given the opportunity to have a choose from the mixed nut box Casper will of course pic the largest, usually walnut half, but in his ideal world he would live on a diet of only the honey coated almonds that come in our breakfast cereal. He also has foot and wing problems but nowhere near as bad as Sherman so he doesn't fly more than a few feet.
He gets his exercise by chasing a plastic bottle around the floor. We also get him to hang on to a finger which we hold above our head and then swoop down to the floor whilst he flaps his wings. We have to say "one two three go" otherwise he just flops over backwards which I think is mainly for comedy effect.

That's funny!:th_laughing8:

Sherman chews on her natural branches forgetting there are consequences. She'll chew thru and flip over or fall. She shakes it off like, "I meant to do that."

At least you don't have to worry about Casper escaping through an open door or window! :th_laughing8:

[Quakerella]

Love to see it when they do something new, very exciting. I am just weaning a baby blue quaker, from the first feather to the first step and now sitting on the top perch. Love to see them progress.

It is a fight at our house for the apples and the almonds. Birds love them, but I usually win.:pinkgrin:

[LesliesBabies]

Sherman would go to the door, grab her almond sliver and head back. A little later she'd scoot back down for the apple.

She tried for the second time to venture out but fell. (Thank God for carpet.) She couldn't get back up despite trying and trying, so I slowly scooted on the floor to help her. She bit me but not hard enough to draw blood. Obviously, she's trying!

I put a rope perch and a SMALL cup to entice her, but she doesn't seem to care. I may lower them as something to reach for to hold on. Also, I made a rope ladder that might be an option at the bottom, but I liked having her depend on me for help back up.

[LesliesBabies]

My Sherman update. ***PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT READ IF YOU DISLIKE USELESS BIRD STORIES!***
Sherman now has a parrot ladder with two small cups on top: one has pellets and almond pieces, the other has water. She ventured onto it to grab an almond piece then stayed there to eat it. She wasn't interested in the water.
Granted the ladder with cups is against the door, but that's not the point.
Sherman is slowly venturing outside her cage more and more.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

I love reading about Sherman's escapades :)

[LesliesBabies]

Thanks. The conure boys get out of quarantine today. They'll finally get to meet the budgies that have been yelling at them and Sherman. I wonder how Sherman will react. She's heard them over and over. How could she not? I'm concerned she'll feel threatened by them or even try to bite them through the bars.
I've seriously considered moving the conure cage into Sherman's room. Should I?

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Some birds hate change... you put a nice expensive entertainment in their cage and they act as though it is going to kill them. So you leave it close by until they grow to accept it by familiarity.
I would suggest this might be the way to go with introductions, although I have no experience. They might just all get on or they might form cliques and start gang wars - just like kids in a school playground :)

[LesliesBabies]

The Sun has clipped wings so tends to stay in a ~5' radius, but the GCC not and flies much further. The conures LOVE toys; Sherman, no. My friend that knows Glenn, IRN, and can give him meds sggested that I wait until tomorrow. I didn't mention considering moving the conures into her room.

Everybody has their own room now. Glenn's door will have to be closed when the conures are out, but he's used to that. Actually, there won't really be a change for him.

This is my thought. Move the conure cage across the room. Make sure they're back in their closed cage before opening Sherman'6s cage. Keep the conures off her cage until everyone understands how to behave.

Another option is moving the budgies into Sherman's room of the conures. Even when they are out, they prefer curtain rods and high places. In time, the conures could move in.

Of course, I could just leave everything the same, but I want to let them do more than just hear one another.